Chapter Thirty-Seven Encounter

  Today is Changyuanbo's 60th birthday banquet, and the dishes are exquisite as expected.

  Ye Qinglan had an excellent appetite and enjoyed her food immensely.

  Ye Qingning was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn't have much of an appetite. She only ate a few bites before putting down her chopsticks, lost in thought as if thinking about something.

  Ye Qing looked up at her with a smile and said, "Sixth sister, the dress you're wearing today is really beautiful. Did you have it custom-made at Jinzhi Workshop?"

  Ye Qingning didn't have any extra emotions to care about her, she just nodded casually and remained silent.

  Ye Qingfu bumped into a soft nail, still unwilling to give up, and smiled: "It's been years since I've seen Zheng brother, indeed a talented person!" Intentionally lowering her voice, she smiled: "Sixth sister is really lucky."

  If this were said at ordinary times, Ye Qingning might have smiled and dismissed it. But at this moment when she was feeling anxious and annoyed, how could she listen to this? Her pretty face suddenly sank: "What nonsense are you talking about! If others heard this, wouldn't they think I'm that kind of frivolous woman?"

  Ye Qing's face was hot and her buttocks were cold, she felt very embarrassed.

  The people at the same table were all cousins of the same clan, and they were all very clear about Ye Qingning's temper. No one helped Ye Qingfu to mediate. Ye Qingfu became more and more embarrassed, but instead showed a few points of pitifulness.

  Ye Qinglan coughed and said with a smile: "Eating is full, it's better to go out for a walk. Sixth sister, do you want to go together?"

  Everyone's sympathetic gaze floated over. Ye Qingning was already unhappy, and talking to her at this time would undoubtedly be asking for trouble. It would be strange if Ye Qingning had a good expression...

  "Alright!" Ye Qingning agreed readily.

  ……

  Under the astonished gaze of everyone, Ye Qinglan smiled and stood up, leaving with Ye Qingning ahead of time. In order not to attract attention from others, the two quietly left the flower hall and walked out along a small path beside it.

  Where to go? Do you need to ask? Of course, we are going to Rakumaien.

  Ye Qinglan understood Ye Qingning's girlish thoughts, but kept her mouth shut and only chatted casually along the way. When they arrived at Luomei Courtyard, she deliberately said: "I wonder how much Xiyu sister is doing, anyway we're here, let's go take a look."

  This remark hit Ye Qingning's soft spot, and she felt extremely delighted in her heart, but on the surface, she maintained a composed demeanor and nodded slightly.

  Ye Qinglan suppressed her smile and accompanied Ye Qingning into the Luomei Courtyard.

  The layout of Luomei Courtyard was similar to that of He Feng Yuan, but it was much larger. The maid guarding the gate saw Ye Qingning arrive and hurriedly came forward to greet her.

  Ye Qingning asked faintly: "Where's Dongyan?" Zheng Shi had sent Dongyan to attend to her, so naturally Dongyan wouldn't be far from Gu Xiuyu.

  That maid was very clever and busily smiled in response: "Winter Goose sister is in the guest room over there, I'll take you there right away."

  The sound had barely fallen when footsteps were heard again at the door.

  Ye Qinglan carelessly glanced over, but after seeing the person's face, she was taken aback. How did he end up coming too...

  Ye Qingning followed Ye Qinglan's gaze and was also taken aback, then smiled lightly and greeted him: "Cousin, what brings you here?"

  A man in a plain-colored brocade robe, with a faint smile on his face, was none other than Zheng Junyan.

  Zheng Junyan obviously didn't expect to run into the two of them either, and smiled somewhat awkwardly: "I heard that Cousin Gu and Sister Xiuyu were here, so I thought I'd come take a look."

  As soon as Gu Xiannian was mentioned, Ye Qingning suddenly felt a little guilty and forced out a smile to respond: "Yes, I also wanted to come over and take a look at them!"

  Two people each had their own thoughts and surprisingly neither of them looked directly into the other's eyes.

  Ye Qinglan watched with a cold eye, and a strange feeling floated up in her heart.

  Ye Qingning and Zheng Junyan, this pair of cousins, have already been recognized by everyone as a couple. They just need to formally cross the threshold, and they will be husband and wife. However, the interaction between the two is far from being as intimate as outsiders think.

  Ye Qingning secretly remembered Gu Xiannian in her heart, so she was a bit uncomfortable when facing Zheng Junyan. But where did the guilt and apology at the bottom of Zheng Junyan's eyes come from?

  Zheng Junyan quickly regained his composure and smiled: "In that case, let's go together. It'll be more lively with more people."

  Ye Qingning smiled and nodded slightly.

  Ye Qinglan was also used to being a background character, and it wasn't until now that she smiled brightly and spoke up: "I don't know where the guest room is, I'll have to trouble Sixth Sister to lead the way." This was just a joke. With maids around, there was no need for the dignified Sixth Miss to personally lead the way.

  Ye Qingning was indeed teased into having a hint of a smile, and she playfully glared at Ye Qinglan with a sideways glance.

  The atmosphere has finally relaxed a lot.

  They soon arrived at the guest house. Dongyan was waiting in the small hall outside the guest room, saw a few people from afar, and hurriedly smiled and came to greet them.

  Ye Qingning didn't waste any words and directly asked: "Where are Xi Nian's older brother and Xishu's younger sister?"

  Dongyan replied, "Miss Biao and Young Master Biao are both inside the house. The meal has already been sent in. Young Master Biao said he didn't need anyone to attend to him, so I can only wait here."

  Ye Qingning nodded and whispered to Zhi Xia to go knock on the door.

  After a while, a clear and gentle male voice faintly sounded: "Is it Qing Ning's cousin?"

  Ye Qingning suppressed the excitement and fluctuation in her heart, smiling and saying: "It's me, Zheng brother also came. We come to visit Xiuyu sister together!"

  Zheng Junyan smiled and took over: "Older brother, hurry up and open the door."

  The door opened and Gu Xiannian stood at the entrance, smiling faintly as he greeted the two of them. His eyes swept across Ye Qinglan's face.

  It's unclear whether it was Ye Qinglan's misconception or not, but she always felt that there was something fleeting in those two light and airy gazes.

  Ye Qinglan's heart skipped a beat, and she focused her attention again to look over, but Gu Xiannian had already shifted his gaze away, smiling lightly as he said: "Yu'er just finished lunch and is resting inside."

  Zheng Junyan's expression changed, and his concern was evident: "I haven't seen her for a long time, is she okay now?"

  Ye Qingning's thoughts were all on Gu Xianyun, so she naturally didn't notice this detail.

  Ye Qinglan looked at Zheng Junyan calmly and quietly, with a string of thoughts flashing through her mind.

  Gu Xiannian also seemed to notice Zheng Junyan's unusual attitude, and her eyes flashed as she replied calmly: "Still the same, doesn't like to talk or see people. You're all not outsiders, so I'll speak directly. I'll go ask first and see if she's willing to see you. If she doesn't want to come out, don't take offense."

  Ye Qing and Ning Zheng said in unison: "Of course, we won't think it's strange."

  Gu Xiannian suddenly smiled: "You two really have a tacit understanding."

  That faint smile is like a gentle breeze rippling across the lake, stirring up layers of ripples. It's also like the bright moonlight shining directly on one's face, making one feel carefree and joyful.

  However, although this joking remark was subtle, everyone present understood its playful implication.

  Ye Qingning's face turned red, and just as she was about to say something, Zheng Junyan hurriedly explained: "Big brother, don't joke around, I and Qingning are like siblings."